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Old time fiddle

Old time (also spelled old-time or oldtime) fiddle is the style of American fiddling found in old-time music. Old time fiddle tunes are derived from European folk dance forms such as the jig, reel, breakdown, schottische, waltz, two-step, and polka. When the fiddle is accompanied by banjo, guitar, mandolin, or other string instruments, the configuration is called a string band. The types of tunes found in old-time fiddling are called "fiddle tunes", even when played by instruments other than a fiddle.

The style originates from the colonization of North America by immigrants from England, France, Germany, Ireland, and Scotland, who brought their native fiddling traditions with them, mixed with influence from African-American music. It originated in Appalachia and the American South, but has since spread all over the United States. It is separate and distinct from traditions which it has influenced or which may in part have evolved from it, such as bluegrass, country blues, variants of western swing and country rock.


Starting in the 1920s, some fiddlers, particularly younger ones like Aurtur Smith, were swept up in newer music and their style and repertoires reflected influences from blues, ragtime, and Tin Pan Alley. Anyone who wanted to make a career in music had to keep up with the times. But many, like John Salyer and Hiram Stamper cared little for the new music, and stayed with the old-time tunes.[1]

"Oldtime" works from different tonal centers

it uses

cross tunings

it uses harmonic resonant overtones

it uses

accidentals

it mixes non-tempered scales with harmonization

or it is completely modal.

Repertoire[edit]

Traditional old time fiddle tunes[edit]

This is a partial listing of the old time fiddle repertoire, most of which are in the public domain and have no known authorship. Many of these tunes have rich historical significance. [4]

History and subgenres[edit]

Fiddlin' John Carson is one of the canonical historic figures in old time fiddling.[1] Other famous and important figures include Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, Charlie Higgins and countless figures known only in local oral histories.


Old time fiddling has recognized regional variants which are distinguished from regional variants of bluegrass, Celtic and other styles. For instance, Texas Old Time fiddle, is distinct from Texas swing fiddle, Texas blues and Texas rock. It is Old Time, like its relatives in other regional genres (or subgenres) but it is a distinct form in its own right, according to its proponents. For instance, the Texas Old Time Fiddler's Association asserts the uniqueness, and superiority, of the "Texas-style of old time fiddling". In an essay entitled The Origins of the Texas-Style of Traditional Old Time Fiddling, the organizations asserts that "the Texas fiddler avoids the repetition and monotony of the two-part Appalachian fiddle tune in favor of those tunes that are more complex and exceed the two-part limit".[5]


Cajun fiddle is based on French-speaking Acadian culture in Louisiana and Texas and includes copious use of double stops and distinctive rhythms.

flattening the bridge slightly which makes it easier to perform rapid "double" shuffles which alternate between string pairs. This is not done in Irish, Scottish and most other fiddle styles.

fiddle players in general more commonly use four fine tuners, where violinists may use only one, for the solid-steel E string.

[19]

Old time fiddlers may dispense with chin rests entirely. Many don't use a shoulder rest, or use a rustic version thereof, such as a kitchen sponge held to the fiddle with a rubber band.

The fiddle used in playing old-time fiddle tunes is essentially a violin, which may be somewhat modified to accommodate old-time playing technique. These modifications include:

Western swing fiddle

Cajun fiddle

Canadian fiddle

American fiddle

Documentary "Why Old Time?"

Appalachian English

Meta index of resources

Nashville_Old_Time_Jukebox

Tons of fiddle tunes

Old Time Fiddlers Hall of Fame

Appalachian Traditional Music: A Short History

Sheet music, lyrics & midis for 200+ traditional old-time songs

Washington Oldtime Fiddlers Association

Collection of traditional fiddle tunes performed by Henry Reed of Glen Lyn, Virginia. Recorded by folklorist Alan Jabbour in 1966–67.

The Henry Reed Collection at the Library of Congress

National traditional music association

Pegram Jam Old Time Music Resource